Resources
The Many Symptoms of Yeast/Fungus Infestation
Part I – Allergies, Environmental Hypersensitivity, & Fatigue
Source: Sick & Tired. Reclaim your Inner Terrain by Dr. Robert O. Young.
“I would like to expand and strengthen understanding of the connection between Y/F (Yeast/Fungus) overgrowth, mycotoxins and so-called diseases. This connection usually involves vicious circles, wherein Y/F will take advantage of an unbalanced terrain, but will also compromise the terrain. As they do so, “host” resistance is decreased, and the poisons result in a host of physical and mental conditions. The following section relates Y/F and digestive imbalance to disease symptoms. These symptoms are often interrelated in a complex way, are usually chronic, and include, but are not limited to:
Allergy – food and environmental. As we’ve seen, the blood can be overwhelmed by fungus and poisons, severely stressing the immune system. In addition, digestive difficulties often prevent the proper breakdown of protein. Partially digested proteins (not usable by the body) can still be absorbed into the blood, especially when a leaky gut exists. In this form they serve no purpose other than feeding bacteria and Y/F feed on (putrefy and ferment) undigested proteins, they produce several toxins, including uric acid. These can be absorbed into the blood, or be produced in the blood by Y/F, which also activates an immune response.
Since this combination of poor protein digestion with Y/F and their mycotoxins is frequent or ongoing, our janitorial service is constantly irritated, overworked and on edge. Imagine yourself trying constantly to clean house as filth is being tossed in through the windows. These irritations may result in chemical or nutritional sensitivities – allergic reactions to other substances, which are called allergens. Allergens may be other foods, airborne matter or chemicals. An immediate or slightly delayed chemical chain reaction creates the various allergic responses we see (but there are some not commonly recognized, such as addictions). The allergy-causing food or airborne allergen does not cause the allergy directly, but only triggers it because immune processes are already compromised. That is, there is a threshold situation: the level of filth, toxicity or acidity has reached a point where the allergen instigates the reaction; but it does not cause the allergic condition.
The irritation/inflammation reaction produced (appearing as allergic symptoms) is a means of dealing with acid toxins. Sometimes the body will use sudden and drastic means in a cleansing reaction that is misinterpreted as an allergy if a beneficial, cleansing substance is taken, such as wheat grass. Soreness, swelling, tearing eyes, runny nose, eczema, etc., are all ways of eliminating acid toxins. Thus, Y/F, whose poisons are acid, may contribute significantly to your hay fever and sneezing. Once the process is under way, the number of offending substances can keep increasing until many individuals become so sensitive to the everyday environment that they must live in isolation or move to another climate. If you had no symptogenic Y/F, it would be impossible for you to have allergies.
Environmental hypersensitivity is another common complaint, closely related to allergy and immune function. Such things as smoke and auto exhaust, fumes in the home from carpet, fabrics, walls and natural gas leaks, can cause extreme adverse reactions. Environmental toxins stress and suppress the immune system, poison the cells, and promote the upward development of Y/F. Encouraged to grow in a terrain compromised by environmental toxins, Y/F weaken the entire body, making it more susceptible to the influence of environmental toxins: vicious circle. Symptoms are most dramatic when fungus, in the form of its tiny filaments (mycelia), infiltrates the heart, lungs, and sinus membranes. Serious tissue congestion and inflammation are the result. An autopsy performed on one woman who died of heart failure showed that her heart was encased in a fungal overgrowth!
Fatigue may have a slight edge on allergy as the most common symptom of bacterial and Y/F infestation. It can be especially pronounced after a night’s rest, after eating, and in the middle of the afternoon. Y/F infestation unbalances the process that controls the water and mineral content (electrolyte balance) of cells. Since this balance is necessary for cell activity, normal flow of energy is impeded.
As with allergy, disrupted digestion plays a major role in fatigue. If you cannot digest and assimilate food, the tissues will eventually starve, making you feel sick and tired. Acetaldehyde and other mycotoxins reduce the absorption of protein and minerals, which decrease the ability to produce enzymes and hormones. To make matters worse, the Y/F overgrowth is swapping its wastes for your hormones, blood sugar and other nutrients. Consequently, you are always hungry and/or have rapid drops in blood sugar (glucose) levels. Such disruption interferes with cell replacement and with substances necessary for energy production. The result is fatigue, poor endurance, and weakness. Thus, Y/F are the major players in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, the so-called Epstein-Barr “nonvirus.” This syndrome may also involve damage to nerve transmission by toxic breakdown of neurotransmitters by acetaldehyde.
The vicious circle is that low energy levels will encourage yet a further overgrowth of Y/F. This is why a whole food diet, combined with taking vitamins, minerals, and protein supplements, makes most people feel so much better.
Neurological imbalance is a symptom of Y/F and is occurring in epidemic proportions. Mycotoxins interfere with the production of coenzyme A. Coenzymes combine with other compounds to produce complete enzymes. As noted, enzymes assist almost all body processes, including those of the brain and nervous system. When coenzyme A decreases, conditions like depression, anxiety, and PMS symptoms are often worsened, without apparent cause. The mycotoxin acetaldehyde is continually produced by YF and converted by the liver to alcohol. Some people who appear to have been drinking are actually showing the effects of Y/F and its alcohol by-product.
Common symptoms are in many cases simply the result of being poisoned: paranoia, not being in total control of one’s actions, knowing the right thing to do but being unable to do it, mental incompetence, and a variety of other behavioral disturbances (emotional and psychological). Other possible symptoms are panic attacks, feelings of anxiety, depression, irritability, and headaches. Hypochondriac-type reactions causing neurotic behavior and emotional instability are also possible.
How many people have spent fruitless, long periods of time in therapy trying to come to psychological grips with an imbalance in the brain and central nervous system created by toxicity? Given the enormous extent to which Y/F infestation has overtaken our population, it boggles the mind. Of course, the really tough cases get Prozac or something worse, on top of it. I’m not saying psychological problems don’t exist, but wouldn’t it seem wise to put the important Y/F variable into the equation? Or would this threaten the coffers of a most lucrative component of the pharmaceutical/medical complex?
How difficult is it to imagine that a lot of serious crime arises from mycotoxicity? A person may be very aware of their behavior, be miserable for it, yet, still be unable to realize how they lose control. Thus, our sometimes harsh, self-righteous attitude toward violent criminals may not always be appropriate. Think of the benefit to society of generating mental health through the simple process of balancing our inner terrain!
Additional neurological fallout from Y/F includes ailments such as mood swings, headaches, migraines, that fogged-in-feeling, inability to concentrate, poor memory, confusion, dizziness, and even MS-like symptoms such as slurred speech and muscular incoordination.